I stood alone in the midst of the crowd for only a few seconds before the initial shock faded and I began chasing down my future bride again.
It had all been her father. In reality she wanted about as much to do with this as I did. I guess I should've seen it coming after that carriage ride in the rain. She hadn't shown much intrest in me; at least, not the extent her sisters did. It had been the very thing that had me so intrigued that evening. Well, besides those brown eyes of course.
I'd been so distracted by everything else under the sky though that I hadn't seen it. I had just assumed her father and her had come to an agreement--perhaps a compromise--concerning the next step in her future and I had become the unfortunately honored. Afterall, she'd never hinted towards such adamant dislike.
"Miss Ains--er--Nora!" I called out, not sure which title was appropriate now, "I..." suddenly remembered we had an audience and hesitated. Here was not the place for a heated discussion.
She turned her head only enough to shoot a sharp glance over her shoulder and then picked up her pace. Every movement she made dared me to even speak in her direction. I did much more than that.
"Perhaps a short walk in the night air will calm your nerves, Dear," I strode up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to guide her towards the door. She jerked her head around towards me and I immediatly turned away to look out at those around us. It was partly to avoid her disgusted scowl and partly to make sure I was doing things right. No one seemed too horrified, so I led--or rather pushed--her outside.
It had all been her father. In reality she wanted about as much to do with this as I did. I guess I should've seen it coming after that carriage ride in the rain. She hadn't shown much intrest in me; at least, not the extent her sisters did. It had been the very thing that had me so intrigued that evening. Well, besides those brown eyes of course.
I'd been so distracted by everything else under the sky though that I hadn't seen it. I had just assumed her father and her had come to an agreement--perhaps a compromise--concerning the next step in her future and I had become the unfortunately honored. Afterall, she'd never hinted towards such adamant dislike.
"Miss Ains--er--Nora!" I called out, not sure which title was appropriate now, "I..." suddenly remembered we had an audience and hesitated. Here was not the place for a heated discussion.
She turned her head only enough to shoot a sharp glance over her shoulder and then picked up her pace. Every movement she made dared me to even speak in her direction. I did much more than that.
"Perhaps a short walk in the night air will calm your nerves, Dear," I strode up to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders to guide her towards the door. She jerked her head around towards me and I immediatly turned away to look out at those around us. It was partly to avoid her disgusted scowl and partly to make sure I was doing things right. No one seemed too horrified, so I led--or rather pushed--her outside.
***
"What are you doing?!" she snarled, tearing herself from me once we were a safe distance from the celebration.
"My sincerest apologies," I instantly put my hands up, "But I needed to speak to you. And I doubt it would please your father if his daughter and her promised began arguing at their own dinner party."
She surrenered only slightly, "I said my part. And convincing me otherwise, I'm afraid, is beyond even your powers, Mr. Samuelson."
"You've convinced me well enough of that," I chuckled, "However, that is not my intention. I only wish to tell you that you're not the only reluctant one in this agreement."
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
"I...don't mistake me, Nora. You're a lovely young woman. In fact, you're probably the most likable out of all my aquaintences here."
She rolled her eyes and, despite my frustration, I laughed. "You really don't like me, do you?"
No response.
"Listen, I only wish to inform you that I'm not as...as prepared for this as I'd like to be. I was only following through because I believed you were in agreement. You've now shown me that you most certainly are not. And that makes two of us."
I was quiet after that, letting her register this new information. She stared at the ground, almost as shocked as I had been. She must've had the same assumptions about me that I had of her. The irony of it all made me want to laugh again; how had I got caught up in such a silly web?
"Well then, if you're so reluctant," the bitterness remained when she looked up again, "how does one explain this?"
She took off her elaborate ring and held it out, "It seems it bit too eager, if you ask me."
A valid point. At first I'd laughed at its gaudiness but Charles had insisted that it was most consistent with the income I was faking and we couldn't afford to change it. In reality it was one of his wife's old ones with a jewler's extra handiwork and a bargain pasted on. However, since the jewler was also well aquainted with the engagement of the famous Mr. Samuelson, Charles had told him we were simply running an errand for his wife. The man had asked about the engagement ring and offered a few potentials but when he handed our finished ring back I told him I already had one in mind.
"Nora," I smiled, "You're to be the bride of Elliot Samuelson. What did you expect?"
I knew it didn't please her but it answered the question. She sighed and lowered the ring again, though she didn't put it back on. And I didn't push her to. We just stood there in the chilly night air for a moment, neither of us knowing where to go from here.
"Oh. I had no idea you two were out here," Charolette's level voice caught us off gaurd and we spun around, "I suppose the little bride-to-be could only take so much excitement. Any more admiration and well wishes and she might've grown faint."
"Good evening, Miss Evans," I slightly bowed, not responding to the rude comment, though it had me confused. Charolette's fight was with me, not Miss Ainsworth. The last time we'd happened upon each other was the other day when she had so graciously stated her feelings by slapping me across the face with her glove and then departed. What did one say after such an occasion?
She didn't bother hiding her scowl as she curtsied, "Evening, Mr. Samuelson." Her eyes shifted back to Nora and then to her ringless hand. Her eyebrows rose, "Having second thoughs, Nora? I suppose it is a lot for someone of your family's temperment to take in. I suppose you can thank your father who's so willing to sell you off. Pity your mother can't be here for it."
My jaw was tempted to fall right open; did she behave in this manner towards everyone?
"Yes," Nora handled it much better than I would've, "We all regret the fact. But we think it best that we move on as a family."
"A noble decision, I think," I nodded in order to brighten the mood. I suddenly realized that things could be a lot worse: I could be engaged to my least favorite aquaintence.
"Well, it was nice speaking to you, Miss Evans," I tipped my hat and slipped my arm through Nora's, risking her annoyance in order to earn us an escape, "But please, do not feel the obligation to entertain us; there is an entire party in there full of refreshment and dance partners for you to enjoy."
She glowered at me but I only smiled and turned around to escort Miss Ainsworth further away.
"This is ridiculous," she pulled away once more when we were out of ear shot, "If we're both against it than you need to find a way to break it off."
"I need to," I argued, "He's your father."
She sneered, "And you're the gentleman. I would think it only good manners for you take the responsibility. Besides, I've already tried. He doesn't listen to me the way he listens to his business partners."
The thought of confronting Mr. Ainsworth was not a soothing one. Still, she was right. I guess it really was my responsibility. But there had to be better ways.
"Well?!"
"Alright!" I surrendered, "I'll...I'll think of something. But this isn't going to be easy Nora. It's going to turn the opinnions of every person here tonight."
"Mr. Ainsworth sent me to fetch you," the voice of Hodges interrupted.
Nora turned around, relieved, and I inwardly groaned. My toes smarted at the thought of reliving another lecture. What did a man have to do to find two moments of peace? The past few days seemed to be ambush after ambush.
"Very well," I recovered and tugged at the collar of my jacket as I couldn't refuse the banker, "After you Miss..."
I suddenly realized she was already a good five steps ahead of me and I looked over at the parish instead, "...ster Hodges."
With a roll of his eyes, he walked forwards. I followed suit, knowing better than to try and catch up to her, even if the crowd would expect us to come in together. Our physical seperation may disapoint a few but I decided they'd best get used to it.
Once we reached the door I hung back, letting the parish enter before I did. I quickly regretted the decision though as I ended up entering just as Nathaniel had been about to exit. I was only inches from running right into him and knocking the drink out of his hands.
"There he is! The celebrity of the celebration," he smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders but I kept my gaurd up, knowing the action was only to fight off the suspicion of others.
"I think I may have underestimated you, Elliot," he spoke low enough for only me to hear and swept his glass towards the dancers, "It takes a lot more than a pitchfork to get a whole town in such an uproar. I wonder though..." he paused, as if musing, "how much louder it will get when they discover that their Mr. Samuelson doesn't exist? Whatever will you do then?"
"Reveal you," I smirked, "Then it's only a matter of who runs the fastest: a lean and able farm boy or a weak, idle pickpocket."
"Oh. I had no idea you two were out here," Charolette's level voice caught us off gaurd and we spun around, "I suppose the little bride-to-be could only take so much excitement. Any more admiration and well wishes and she might've grown faint."
"Good evening, Miss Evans," I slightly bowed, not responding to the rude comment, though it had me confused. Charolette's fight was with me, not Miss Ainsworth. The last time we'd happened upon each other was the other day when she had so graciously stated her feelings by slapping me across the face with her glove and then departed. What did one say after such an occasion?
She didn't bother hiding her scowl as she curtsied, "Evening, Mr. Samuelson." Her eyes shifted back to Nora and then to her ringless hand. Her eyebrows rose, "Having second thoughs, Nora? I suppose it is a lot for someone of your family's temperment to take in. I suppose you can thank your father who's so willing to sell you off. Pity your mother can't be here for it."
My jaw was tempted to fall right open; did she behave in this manner towards everyone?
"Yes," Nora handled it much better than I would've, "We all regret the fact. But we think it best that we move on as a family."
"A noble decision, I think," I nodded in order to brighten the mood. I suddenly realized that things could be a lot worse: I could be engaged to my least favorite aquaintence.
"Well, it was nice speaking to you, Miss Evans," I tipped my hat and slipped my arm through Nora's, risking her annoyance in order to earn us an escape, "But please, do not feel the obligation to entertain us; there is an entire party in there full of refreshment and dance partners for you to enjoy."
She glowered at me but I only smiled and turned around to escort Miss Ainsworth further away.
"This is ridiculous," she pulled away once more when we were out of ear shot, "If we're both against it than you need to find a way to break it off."
"I need to," I argued, "He's your father."
She sneered, "And you're the gentleman. I would think it only good manners for you take the responsibility. Besides, I've already tried. He doesn't listen to me the way he listens to his business partners."
The thought of confronting Mr. Ainsworth was not a soothing one. Still, she was right. I guess it really was my responsibility. But there had to be better ways.
"Well?!"
"Alright!" I surrendered, "I'll...I'll think of something. But this isn't going to be easy Nora. It's going to turn the opinnions of every person here tonight."
"Mr. Ainsworth sent me to fetch you," the voice of Hodges interrupted.
Nora turned around, relieved, and I inwardly groaned. My toes smarted at the thought of reliving another lecture. What did a man have to do to find two moments of peace? The past few days seemed to be ambush after ambush.
"Very well," I recovered and tugged at the collar of my jacket as I couldn't refuse the banker, "After you Miss..."
I suddenly realized she was already a good five steps ahead of me and I looked over at the parish instead, "...ster Hodges."
With a roll of his eyes, he walked forwards. I followed suit, knowing better than to try and catch up to her, even if the crowd would expect us to come in together. Our physical seperation may disapoint a few but I decided they'd best get used to it.
Once we reached the door I hung back, letting the parish enter before I did. I quickly regretted the decision though as I ended up entering just as Nathaniel had been about to exit. I was only inches from running right into him and knocking the drink out of his hands.
"There he is! The celebrity of the celebration," he smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders but I kept my gaurd up, knowing the action was only to fight off the suspicion of others.
"I think I may have underestimated you, Elliot," he spoke low enough for only me to hear and swept his glass towards the dancers, "It takes a lot more than a pitchfork to get a whole town in such an uproar. I wonder though..." he paused, as if musing, "how much louder it will get when they discover that their Mr. Samuelson doesn't exist? Whatever will you do then?"
"Reveal you," I smirked, "Then it's only a matter of who runs the fastest: a lean and able farm boy or a weak, idle pickpocket."
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